Cultivating Flourishing through Yoga Nidra Practice in Students: A Longitudinal Randomised Waitlist-Controlled Study

Summary

A 14-week Yoga Nidra practice module significantly reduced depression, anxiety, and perceived stress while improving life satisfaction, flourishing, and peace of mind among 140 students at a premier technical institute in India, compared to a waitlist control group. Sleep quality deteriorated in the control group but remained stable in the Yoga Nidra group. Cognitive flexibility also improved more in the Yoga Nidra group. Qualitative analysis indicated that the practice shifted students from reactivity to response, fostering inner calm and holistic restoration.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: University students globally face an escalating mental health crisis (Paiva et al., 2025), yet interventions often overlook the active cultivation of complete well-being (flourishing). Objective: This randomized, waitlist-controlled study evaluated the impact of a 14-week Yoga Nidra Practice (YNP) module on mental distress and complete well-being at a premier technical institute in India. Methods: One hundred and forty students (N=140) were randomized 1:1 to either a structured YNP intervention or a waitlist control (WC) group. Primary outcomes included depression, anxiety, perceived stress, sleep quality, flourishing, life satisfaction, mood and peace of mind. Secondary outcomes assessed cognitive flexibility, visual scanning, processing speed and academic performance. Results: The YNP group demonstrated significantly greater improvements than the WC group across six primary outcomes: depression (p < .001, r = -0.35), anxiety (p < .001, r = -0.34), life satisfaction (p < .001, r = 0.34), perceived stress (p = .003, r = -0.29), flourishing (p = .004, r = 0.28), and peace of mind (p = .001, r = 0.32). Furthermore, while sleep quality significantly deteriorated in the WC group compared to baseline (p = .003), it remained same in the YNP group (p = .817) resulting in a significant between-group difference (p = .010, r = -0.25). YNP group also achieved significantly greater gains in cognitive flexibility compared to the WC group (TMTB: p = .001, r = -0.32). Reflexive thematic analysis revealed that effective coping practices facilitated a foundational shift from reactivity to response, cultivating an inner calm that drove holistic restoration. This central mechanism resulted in significant physical restoration, cognitive enhancement, and the integration of mindful living into students' daily academic routines. Conclusion: This YNP module is a potent, scalable intervention that reduces psychological distress, and educators may consider including it in their curriculum to support students' holistic well-being, particularly those in high-stress environments. Keywords: Yoga Nidra, Psychological Distress, Sleep Quality, Cognitive Flexibility, Mental Well-being, Students.